About Northwest Indian College
Our History
With its main campus located on the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Northwest Indian College is the only accredited Tribal College serving the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
NWIC grew from the Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture, founded in 1973, a single-purpose training program developed to prepare technicians for employment in Indian-owned and operated fish and shellfish hatcheries throughout the United States and Canada.
In 1983, the Lummi Indian Business Council recognized the need for a more comprehensive post-secondary institution for Tribal members, and the college was chartered as Lummi Community College, an Indian-controlled, comprehensive two-year college, designed to serve the post-secondary educational needs of Indian people living in the Pacific Northwest. In June of 1988, Lummi Community College was approved as a candidate for accreditation by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWASC) and, on January 20, 1989, in acknowledgement of its wider mandate to serve Native people through the Northwest, Lummi Community College changed its name to the Northwest Indian College.
Northwest Indian College was granted accreditation at the associate level by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), effective September 1993. In 2010, NWIC became accredited at the baccalaureate level and now offers four bachelor’s degrees. The College’s educational programs have been approved by the US Department of Education, Veteran’s Administration, and the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board for the administration of financial assistance for eligible student. Northwest Indian College is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), the American Association of Community Colleges, and the American Council on Education.
NWIC Key Facts
| NWIC Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Seven Campuses | |
| Main Campus | Lummi Nation Bellingham, WA |
| Admissions Overall | |
| Annualized Headcount | 975 |
| Native American | 91.7% |
| Gender | 74.1% Female |
| Tribes Represented | 115+ |
| Average Age | 32 |
| Average Graduate GPA | 3.31 |
| Student Clubs | 11 |
| *data from 2020-2021 AY |
Academics
Admissions
Our Mission, Vision and Core Values
NWIC is guided by its mission, vision, and core values.
NWIC Mission Statement:
- Through education, Northwest Indian College promotes Indigenous self-determination and knowledge.
NWIC Vision Statement:
- We are committed to our students, the Tribes we serve, and advancing Tribal sovereignty for the protection and enhancement of our homelands and future generations.
NWIC Core Values:
- Sәla-lexʷ: Our strength comes from the old people. From them we receive our teachings and knowledge and the advice we need for our daily lives.
- Schtәngәxʷәn: We are responsible to protect our territory. This means we take care of our land and water and everything that is on it and in it.
- Xwlәmi-chosәn: Our culture is our language. We should strengthen and maintain our language.
- Leng-e-sot: We take care of ourselves, watch out for ourselves and love and take care of one another.
- Xaalh: Life balance/sacred
Meet our President
Dr. Lexie Tom, PhD, was appointed as Northwest Indian College President May 1, 2025. She held the role as Interim President since October 2024. The Board of Trustees has confidence in the leadership that Dr. Tom can provide.
Dr. Tom is a Lummi Nation Tribal Member and NWIC Alumna. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Tom served as Acting Director of the Lummi Nation Educational System, which includes Lummi Nation K-12 School, the Early Learning Programs, Head Start program, Johnson O’Malley education program and partnerships with all public schools that enroll Lummi children. In that position she oversaw: Tribal, Federal, state regulations and standards; financial management including managing and allocating funds; maintaining academic standards and curricula; providing leadership to school teams towards academic achievement; and personnel management; while also supporting language and culture in the schools and working with the school board as partners in education.
Dr. Tom holds a doctoral degree in Indigenous Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks for her dissertation, “An Indigenous Teacher Preparation Framework.” She has a Master’s in Public Administration from Evergreen State College, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Western Washington University and is a proud graduate of Northwest Indian College.
Dr. Tom worked for Lummi Nation as the Chairman’s Policy Analyst and later as a member of the Lummi Indian Business Council where Lexie focused on education, Tribal sovereignty, and preservation of language and culture.
At NWIC, Dr. Tom was part of a team of Native faculty who collaborated, researched, and wrote the first Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies Leadership with the support of the late William E. Jones. While serving as Department Chair, Dr. Tom, Greg Mahle, Brandon Morris, and Don McCluskey authored the Lummi Nation School K-12 Language Standards with assessment tools that recognize Tribal values.
In Dr. Tom’s own words: “I grew up at Northwest Indian College. I always heard our elders tell the story how our Tribal leaders as an act of sovereignty voted to create a charter that established what is now Northwest Indian College. I will always remember and recognize the sacrifices our founders and elders made. It’s with their support that education will continue to thrive in our Tribal communities. It’s an honor to continue their vision of Indigenous education towards mission fulfillment in contemporary times. I will continue to listen and learn as we move forward together.”
Meet our Board Chair
Destiny Petroske, ’15 is a Lummi Nation citizen from the Toby and James families. She is the owner of Dee’s Mini Frybread, a frybread and event vending business. She holds an Associate of Arts-DTA from Spokane Falls Community College ’12 and a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Communications and Diversity in Higher Education from Western Washington University. Simultaneously, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies Leadership from Northwest Indian College. Ms. Petroske further obtained a Master of Public Administration degree in Tribal Governance from The Evergreen State College. In February 2019, she embarked on her Ph.D. journey in Indigenous Development and Advancement at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in New Zealand.
Ms. Petroske served in various roles at Northwest Indian College from 2015-2022 including Student Activities Coordinator, Muckleshoot Site Manager, TRIO Director and Dean of Academics. She currently holds the role of Policy Analyst for Vice Chairman Adams at the Lummi Indian Business Council. Additionally, she serves as the Vice Chairwoman on the Lummi Commercial Company Board.
Meet our Board Vice Chair
Ted Solomon, a Lummi Tribal member, is a passionate advocate for preserving his ancestral language. His dedication to this cause stems from his upbringing in a community where the Lummi dialect was fading. Mr. Solomon’s journey to revitalize his heritage language began during his studies at Northwest Indian College in 1989, sparking a cultural awakening within him. This led him to join the Lummi Language Program at NWIC in 1991, where he excelled under the mentorship of one of the last fluent speakers of Xwlemi’chosen. In 2001, he became the Lummi Language Director.
Mr. Solomon served on the Lummi Indian Business Council from 2008 to 2010, advocating for the Lummi community and spearheading language revitalization efforts within the Tribal government. Today, he
oversees the Lummi Language and Culture department areas and serves in many capacities to promote culture, language and preservation for the Lummi People.
Meet our LIBC Representative
Lisa Wilson (Qwa’shi’lo’shia), 16′ is an elected member of the Lummi Indian Business Council and serves as the Secretary. She is also the Vice Chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Lisa also serves as the Co-Chair of the Natural Resources Committee of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. She is on the Board of Directors for Salmon Defense.
Ms. Wilson has worked in many capacities at the Lummi Natural Resources Department. Her last position with LNR was the Endangered Species Act Manager. Lisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Native Environmental Science from Northwest Indian College and created the documentary “Time Immemorial: A Fishing History of the Lummi People” as her capstone project. Her expertise lies in Treaty protection, natural resources, and fisheries policy management.
Meet our Board Members
Henry Dixon, ’24 is a proud member of the Lummi Nation and a United States Air Force Veteran, residing within the boundaries of the Lummi Nation reservation. With a deep commitment to education and community empowerment, Henry holds both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s degree from Northwest Indian College and is an alumnus of the REii Academy of Entrepreneurship, Community College of the Air Force, and the Tacoma Community College, respectfully.
A devoted family man, Henry honors and upholds Indigenous heritage through leadership and service. He currently serves as the Treasurer for the Northwest Indian College Board of Trustees and is a Board Member of the Northwest Indian College Foundation. He is also the Post Commander and a lifetime member of the John H. Kittles American Legion Lummi Post No. 33, serving with distinction in the Honor Guard. His dedication to Indigenous business development was further demonstrated during his tenure as President of the Northwest Indian College chapter of American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL).
With over 25 years of collective experience in management and leadership roles—including Director, Manager, and Supervisor positions—Henry brings a wealth of expertise in organizational oversight, personnel management, and strategic planning. He is well-versed in applying management principles, labor relations, and operational policies to ensure optimal performance and compliance.
Known for his reliability, sound judgment, and commitment to excellence, Henry consistently meets deadlines, communicates effectively with leadership, and maintains strong working relationships across diverse constituencies. His professional ethos is grounded in service, accountability, and a willingness to go above and beyond in support of his community and colleagues.
Penny Carol Hillaire has served as the Lummi Victims of Crime Coordinator since 2018, dedicating her career to supporting youth and developing programs that empower the next generation. A proud alumna of the Lummi Fisheries School of Aquaculture and Northwest Indian College, Penny later transferred to Western Washington University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Community Recreation. She went on to complete her Master of Social Work degree at Eastern Washington University.
Penny has played a key role in advancing tribal policy, particularly in strengthening the Lummi Children’s Code of Laws to uphold the inherent rights of grandparents in raising their grandchildren and ensuring cultural and familial continuity. She also provided the vision for a youth employment initiative targeting ages 14 to 19, in response to the decline of commercial fishing—once a critical source of community-based youth funding. Her work has focused on ensuring that all young adults have access to education and opportunities that empower them to protect the Lummi Nation’s Treaty of 1855 rights, including the right to education.
Penny remains steadfast in her commitment to the wellbeing of the Lummi community and the future of its youth.
Toni Jefferson, ’02 is an enrolled Lummi Tribal member and life-long resident of the Lummi community. Toni has progressively advanced her professional career within the casino gaming industry possessing over twenty (20+) years. In addition, she has worked with the Tribal government operations to secure over twelve (12+) years executive management and leadership experience employed as Human Resources Director, Deputy General Manager and General Manager. As the Lummi Indian Business Council General Manager she supported the Tribal council to ensure administration systems and executive department management functions, policies and services met the needs of Lummi people and families while complying to federal and Tribal laws, codes and ordinances. She was also an instructor at the Northwest Indian College in Winter of 2012 to Fall of 2013, teaching Protecting and Building Gaming Assets and Introduction to the Regulatory Environment.
Her educational background consists of two-year transfer degree from Northwest Indian College, Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems with a Minor in Accounting from Western Washington University. Her graduate level education is attainment of an Executive Leadership master’s in business from Seattle University.
Toni values and practices servant-based leadership while integrating the principles of the Three Ps: People, Place and Profit. Her unique experiences, in-depth expertise of the casino industry, direct knowledge of the Lummi Community values, and executive experience in Tribal government puts her in an excellent position to provide support and leadership to NWIC.
Sheena Williams (Tatakwiltsa), ’19 an enrolled member of the Lummi Nation, serves as the Self Governance Manager for the Lummi Counseling Services Healing Spirit Clinic OTP. She also sits on the Whatcom County Fire District 8 Commission.
During her tenure at the Lummi Indian Business Council from 2012-2021, she worked closely with three chairpersons, five chiefs of staff, and a treasurer. This experience has honed her leadership skills and financial oversight, which she is poised to bring to the Board.
Mrs. Williams’ educational journey is a testament to her dedication and perseverance. She holds her AAS from Northwest Indian College in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she enrolled at the Ultimate Medical Academy and earned her AS in Healthcare Administration in 2021. Mrs. Williams holds a certificate in Adult Family Home Administrator from the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. She continued her educational journey and obtained her BA in Health Care Administration from the University of Arizona Global Campus in 2023. She is furthering her education and pursuing her master’s degree in organizational management, planning to graduate in Spring 2025.
About NWIC
With its main campus located on the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Northwest Indian College is the only accredited tribal college serving the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
NWIC Community
Northwest Indian College provides a sanctuary of learning that in many ways reflect the values of the communities in which they are in.
NWIC Admissions
Northwest Indian College’s primary focus is on recruiting Native American and First Nations (Canadian) students but follows an “open door” admissions policy.
NWIC Extended Campus Locations
Northwest Indian College’s main campus is located at the Lummi Nation. The College also has five full service extended campus sites located at Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S’Klallam and Tulalip. Please use the location links to view details for each extended campus site.
Financial Aid
Northwest Indian College administers a broad range of financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs for students who can demonstrate financial need.
Student Life
NWIC students are encouraged to engage and integrate into the life of the institution. Students are offered opportunities to participate in enrichment activities through Student Affairs, student government, and residence life.